SATURDAY

December 22, 2012

YDC surprise checks continue

Department asks employees to report unethical behavior
By Bianca Cain Johnson
Staff Writer

Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Avery D. Niles is continuing surprise inspections at the Augusta Youth Development Campus and asking employees to report unethical behavior to the departments tip line.

When Niles dropped in unannounced at the facility last week, he reminded staff that its success depended on strict adherence to policy, according to a news release. My inspection objectives are to talk to staff members, see if theyre getting the support they need from the central office and to judge for myself if our staff is following the

rules 24/7 in order to meet DJJ goals for a safe and secure facility, Niles said. This month, four employees were fired and the facilitys interim director was suspended with pay. Many other personnel changes have occurred at the facility since 19-year-old Jade Holder died in his cell in November 2011 and five youths escaped in October of this year. Niles has emphasized warnings on policy violations across the agency since being appointed in

November. He said other actions and personnel changes could be expected. The staff is being asked to use an online tip form to further crack down on policy violations and unethical behavior. The reporting system was devised by the department in the summer and is available to employees and the public. If they see something, they can also say something to help safeguard this workplace while protecting their identity, too, Niles

said of the tip line. But one thing is certain: Its very hard to correct our problems if no one is willing to step forward from the inside and let us know what those problems are. To access the tip form, visit the departments Web site at www.djj. state.ga.us.
Reach Bianca Cain Johnson at (706) 823-3486 or bianca.johnson@augustachronicle.com.

ReAD pAST SToRieS about the Augusta YDC at augustachronicle.com/topics.

Lines for new Air Jordans get rowdy

By Bianca Cain Johnson
Staff Writer

KEEPING THE RIVER RUNNING

Year in review

Student beat rare infection, stayed hopeful

eDiToRS noTe: This is the first installment of a 10-part series on the top stories of 2012. look BACk on the top events of 2012, with stories, photos and videos, at augustachronicle.com.

Richmond County sheriffs deputies were called to help with crowd control at Augusta Mall on Friday morning as hundreds gathered to buy the new Air Jordan shoes. Police estimated that 500 people were crowding the mall entrances at 7 a.m. in hopes of buying a pair of the sneakers, which sell for about $180 and are a rerelease of a 1996 design said to be one of the most famous in the Air Jordan line. At one point, crowds were ordered out of the mall after a disturbance in line, according to police scanner traffic. Eric Harris said he bought a pair of the sneakers after waiting in line since 4 a.m. He said there was a lot of shoving and that deputies threatened the crowd with pepper spray before they were ordered outside. Harris and his friends, who always buy Jordan shoes on their release dates, said lines are usually long but that this was one of the worst they could recall. Its Christmastime, Harris said. Everybody wants their kids to have them. In Huntsville, Ala., police used pepper spray to calm unruly crowds lining up for the shoes outside a mall Thursday morning. News reports said the crowds were seeking bands to ensure they could buy the shoes later. WAFF-TV reported that many refused to leave for medical treatment after being pepper-sprayed.
Reach Bianca Cain Johnson at (706) 823-3486 or bianca.johnson@ augustachronicle.com.

By Meg Mirshak
Staff Writer

Falling water levels at Thurmond Lake, and reduced flows into the Savannah River, have stressed water supplies for downstream cities and industries.

JIM BLAYLOCK/STAFF

Proposal to reduce flow further denied

By Rob pavey
Staff Writer

MoRe on ThURMonD lAke

A proposal by the Army Corps of Engineers to further reduce flows in the Savannah River to the lowest levels in decades has been rejected by state and federal natural resource agencies. Thurmond Lake, currently more than 15 feet low, is managed under a drought plan in which flows are reduced incrementally as water levels fall. The current flow, 3,100 cubic feet per second, is the lowest allowed unless the lake falls to 312 feet above sea level, when releases would be limited to inflows. The corps considered a further reduction to 2,800 cubic feet per second that would be in place on an experimental basis for the first few weeks of winter, enabling scientists to evaluate effects on downstream water users and the environment. We had proposed to resource agencies that we could gather a lot of data on what the impacts would be if we went down to 2,800, corps spokesman Billy Birdwell said. However, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife

Study looks at drought impact/6C ReAD pAST SToRieS on the lakes levels at augustachronicle.com.

Service which has perennial concerns about the Augusta shoals segment of the river and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources rejected the idea with a resounding no, Birdwell said. The change would have been the first time releases had fallen below 3,100 cubic feet per second since the federal Drought Contingency Plan was approved in 1989, said Barb Shelley, a facilitator with the
See flow on pAge 2B

A 24-year-old Georgia woman attracted nationwide attention when she beat astounding odds by fending off a deadly bacterial infection that attacked her flesh. For nearly two months, Aimee Copeland, of Snellville, Ga., was treated for necrotizing fasciitis at Augustas Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital. She contracted the disease May 1 when her leg was gashed as she fell from a zipline that broke over the Little Tallapoosa River. Doctors initially said Copeland had little to no chance of surviving. Her left leg, right foot and both hands were amputated. Copelands father, Andy Copeland, said his daughter lives at home and continues physical therapy twice a week at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta and enjoys swimming at the Shepherd Center, an Atlanta rehabilitation center. She is being fitted for a prosthetic leg and could be able to stand by March. Andy Copeland documented his daughters health

battle in blog posts and on a Facebook page. Her courage and Christian faith were highlighted as she fought to breathe on her own. That positive attitude hasnt been beaten yet, he said. She knows looking back in the past and wishing things had been different doesnt help anything, he said recently. The University of West Georgia graduate student is making plans to finish her thesis by August, her father said. In Augusta and across Georgia, blood drives were held in Aimee Copelands honor. A Run for Aimee 5K raised more than $17,000 for her medical expenses. Copelands father thanked Augusta for its support after the July fundraising run. That Augusta has worldclass medical facilities and world-class spirituality and compassion is no coincidence, he said in a news release. I believe that the latter bred the former, and this is the reason Augusta is such a unique and special place.
Reach Meg Mirshak at (706) 823-3228 or meg.mirshak@augustachronicle.com.

Project takes over old chamber office

By Susan McCord
Staff Writer

ReAD pAST SToRieS about the mayors regional collaboration project at augustachronicle.com.

Mayor Deke Copenhavers idea for a regional collaboration project to spur economic development has its first long-term home in the former Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce building in the Broad Street median. Copenhaver, who helped secure a $100,000 city budget allocation that was soon matched by a $200,000 commitment from Starbucks Coffee Co., said the move will add life back to the I.M. Pei-designed property and to the 600 block of Broad Street, which has mostly vacant buildings. On Tuesday, the Augusta Commission approved a resolution in support of leasing the building to the ARC Project for $1 a year for five years, with

The former chamber of commerce building downtown will house an economic collaboration program.

MICHAEL HOLAHAN/STAFF

an option to renew for five more. In a proposal released earlier this year, Copenhaver said the ARC Project will aid the regions development by giving its technology, military, medical and energy sectors a combined presence.

The resolution states that the building is currently a health hazard but that it will be renovated and used by the ARC Project to host public gatherings and support economic development in Augusta until its value is enhanced and the building possibly sold. Consultant Matt Kwatinetz was a member of the team that scouted the location of Starbucks new soluble products plant in Augusta, and he was hired as a consultant for the ARC Project when the company made its contribution. He said the Broad Street location, while symbolic, is by
See pRoJeCT on pAge 2B

Aimee Copeland is seen leaving Doctors Hospital for an inpatient rehabilitation clinic in July. She beat a rare skin infection that doctors thought would kill her.

FILE/ASSOCIATED PRESS

ABoUT The SeRieS

Through the end of the year, we look back on the big stories of 2012: AiMee CopelAnD: The Georgia graduate student fought a life-threatening infection at Joseph M. Still Burn Center that took her leg, right foot and her hands. Today SUnDAY SAleS: Measures allowing the sale of packaged alcohol on Sundays were approved in several areas, including Augusta-Richmond County. Sunday plAnT VogTle: The expansion of the nuclear power plant became official, and work on the new reactors accelerated rapidly. Monday new U: The consolidation of Georgia Health Sciences and Augusta State universities brought angst, anger and, eventually, compromise. Tuesday SheRiffS RACe: Richard Roundtree made history in November when he was elected the first black sheriff of Richmond County. Wednesday AUgUSTA YDC: A year of turmoil saw the escape of five youths, investigations by the Department of Juvenile Justice and staff firings. Thursday pAine pRoBleMS: Claims of financial mismanagement embroiled Augustas historic college and led to sanctions from the accrediting body. Friday fiRST fRiDAY: The July 6 shooting of six people on Broad Street threatened the festivals survival and revived concerns about downtown safety. Dec. 29 noRTh AUgUSTA STADiUM: North Augusta announced plans for a riverfront development that includes a baseball stadium on the same day the Augusta GreenJackets said Cal Ripken Jr. had sold the team to local investors. Dec. 30 pARking DeCk: After a year of controversy, a parking deck was approved for the citys new convention center. Dec. 31

emptY stoCking funD Donations

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